Windshield wiper



T. J. SMULSKI WINDSHIELD WIPER 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Original Filed June 15,1944 77/5000 5 f hu45k/ ATTORNEYS BY 7m, M, awn-94am Patented Jan. 22,1952 WINDSHIELD WIPER Theodore J. Smuiski, Gary, Ind., assignor toProductive Inventions, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Continuation ofapplication Serial No. 540,476,

June 15, 1944.

1950, Serial No. 182,310

9 Claims. (Cl. 255) This invention relates to windshield wipers, andmore particularly to hand operated windshield wipers.

Many military vehicles, particularly reconnaissance cars, includingarmored cars and lighter cars, more popularly known as jeeps and peeps,are equipped with hand 'operated windshield wipers. These hand operatedwipers, like other equipment employed in military service, are likely tobe destroyed or damaged, either by enemy operations or by rough usage inthe heat of battle. It is therefore important that the wipers beconstructed and arranged so that they may be disassembled andreassembled, or removed and replaced readily, and this without the needfor any special knowledge or skill.

To these ends it is a feature of the present invention that the wipershaft, which carries at its forward end a quickly removable adapter anda wiper arm, and at its rear end an operating crank, is made long enoughto space the adapter and crank apart by a distance greater than thethickness of the windshield frame (through which the shaft passes) andthat a spring device is interposed on the shaft between the windshieldframe and the adapter for urging the adapter in a forward direction.With this arrangement the spring device maintains the shaft and theparts carried by it substantially at their forward limit of movement sothat there is no free play and rattling of the parts in normaloperation. At the same time, the spring device limits'the pressure withwhich the shaft carried parts bear against the windshield, and preventsbinding.

The spring device is also advantageous for the reason that wiper framesvary in thickness,the spring device serving to take up differences inframe thickness. Then too, the adaptor cup through which the wiper armis connected to the shaft may be forced on the shaft (which is tapered)to a greater or lesser extent, depending upon the force applied to thenut whereby the adaptor is forced onto the shaft. The spring device isalso useful for accommodating manufacturing tolerances of all partsinvolved.

As heretofore constructed, these hand operated wipers have been adaptedfor operation only by the driver of the vehicle, and have been adaptedto clear the windshield only directly in front of the driver. It is veryadvantageous, however, to provide tandem wipers so that the windshieldwill be cleared more adequately both for the driver and the passengers,and to provide a plurality of operating handles, either of which iscapable of operating both wipers so that the This application August 30,

wipers may be operated either by the driver or by a passenger.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide practicaland advantageous means for connecting a plurality of standard hand wiperunits for common manual operation. To this end a connector link maydesirably have pivotally connected to its opposite ends a pair of offsetbrackets, each bracket having an end portion adapted to bescrew-connected in a channeled portion of an operating crank, and anoffset portion which is permanently pivotally connected to the connectorlink.

A further important object of the invention is to enable the twin wipermechanism to be detained with the wiper arms in out of the waypositions, the detaining means being of such character that the wipermechanisms may be forced free of the detaining means through operationof either of the crank handles; that is to say, by either the driver ora passenger. To this end, it is an important feature that the detainingor latching members are constructed and arranged to be cammed aside toineffective positions in response to forcible. operation of the wipermechanisms.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in rear elevation, partly broken away,and broken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration,showing a tandem hand operated wiper embodying features of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a view in sectional side elevation. partly broken away, andbroken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration,showing the structure of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken upon the line 3--3 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 540, 476,filed June 15, 1944., now abandoned.

The novel Windshield wiper structure is shown applied to a windshieldframe I in which a pane of glass 2, which constitutes the windshieldproper, is mounted.

The windshield wiper mechanism comprises a pair of hand operated wiperswhich are con- The wiper of Figure 2 comprises a shaft 3 which extendsthrough the upper portion of the frame I and protrudes at the front andrear thereof. The forward end of the shaft 3 has fixed to it an adapter4, the adapter 4 being made fast to the shaft 3 by means of a nut 5.When the nut 5 is unscrewed from the shaft 3, the adapter may be readilywithdrawn, leaving the shaft free to be withdrawn from the windshieldframe and reinserted in it. The wiper arm comprises an inner channeledsection 6 through the forward wall of which a screw 1 is passed freely.The screw 1 also passes freely through a washer 6 and is threadedthrough a nut 9. A cross pin l carried by the side walls of thechanneled member 6 pivotally supports a second channeled wiper armsection H. A sleeve 52 is fitted upon the cross pin [6 and is engaged bythe nut 9 as the screw 'i is turned to draw the nut 9 forward toward theforward wall of the channeled member 6.

The sleeve l2 causes the nut 9 to be pressed against the adapter 4. Thenut 9 is desirably provided with teeth (not shown) which bite into theadapter 4 for fixing the wiper arm section 6 securely to the adapter 4so that it cannot be withdrawn from the adapter nor turned relatively toit. This means of securing the wiper arm section 6 to the adapter 4 isnot claimed herein because it is disclosed and claimed in my pendingapplication Serial No. 470,035, filed December 24, 1942, now Patent No.2,357,280, dated August 29, 1944, for Windshield Wiper Arms.

The wiper arm section 6 includes a further cross pin [3 upon which asleeve 14 is revolvably mounted. A leaf spring l carried by the wiperarm section II bears against the sleeve M to bias the wiper arm sectionI l and the parts carried by it toward the windshield 2. Theconstruction and arrangement of the spring are not fully illustrated nordescribed herein, because they may be of any conventional constructionand are desirably constructed and arranged as disclosed in United StatesPatent No. 2,326,402 granted to me on August 10, 1943.

The wiper arm includes a further section l6 upon the outer end of whicha slotted connector I! is secured. The connector I! is adapted toreceive a hooked member I6 forming part of a cooperating hanger l9carried by a. blade clip 20. The blade clip is affixed to a rigid bladeframe 21 in which a wiping element 22 of rubber or other suitablematerial is secured.

The shaft 3 is formed with a reduced rear end portion 23. Upon the rearfull diameter portion of the shaft 3 there are impaled a thrust bearingmember 24and a pair of spacer washers 25. Upon the reduced end portion23 of the shaft there are impaled a channeled operating crank 26 and awasher 21. The rear extremity of the shaft is upset to form a head 28whereby the operating crank 26 is permanently and fixedly secured to theshaft 3. The crank 26 has affixed to the outer end thereof an operatinghandle 29.

The cranks 26 of the two wiper units are connected to one anotherthrough a connector link 30 and associated connector brackets 3|. Eachbracket 3! includes an end portion which is formed with a threadedopening. A screw 32 is adapted to be passed through the body portion ofthe channeled crank 26 and threaded through the bracket 3|. A lockwasher 33 may advantageously be interposed between the head of the screw32 and the channeled crank 26. The end portion of the bracket 3!- fitsbetween the side Walls of the channeled crank 26 so that it cannot turnrelatively to the crank and there is no tendency in operation for thescrew 32 to be backed out and worked loose.

The opposite end of the bracket 3| is offset forwardly so that its frontface stands clear of the side walls of the channeled crank 26. Aconnector pin 34 is employed for connecting the bracket 3| to the link36. The pin 34 comprises a head 35, a body portion 36, and a reducedbody portion 31. The bracket 3| has rotative engagement with the bodyportion 36 and is desirably of slightly less thickness than the lengthof said body portion. The link 30 is impaled upon the reduced portion3'! and is riveted thereto by the upsetting of an end portion 38 of thepin 34 to provide a head.

Since the movement of the link 38 is limited by engagement with ashoulder formed by the junction of the body portions 38 and 31, there isno tendency to bind the bracket 35 between the link 39 and the head 35,so that free and easy pivotal action is at all times assured. Since thecranks 26 are duplicates of one another, the link 36 is connected to thebrackets at equal dista'nce's from the shafts 3. By mounting the shafts3 ata distance from one another equal to the length of the link 30,between the centers of the openings that receive the pins 34, paralleloperation of the cranks '26 may be secured.

Upon the shaft 3 there is mounted a spring device 39 between the forwardface of the frame I and the adapter 4. This device comprises a pair oftelescoping cup-shaped members 4!) and 4! between which the coil spring42 is interposed. The inner member 40 is formed with an o'uttu'rnedflange 43, while the outer member 41 is formed with an inturned flange4' 2. The flanges prevent separation of the telescoping parts and thespring, maintaining the unitary character of the device.

The adapter 4 and the crank 26 are mounted in fixed locations upon theshaft 3 and at a fixed distance from one another. The available spacebetween the bearing member 24 and the adapter :4 is greater than thethickness of the windshield fraine, by an amount sufficient to enablethe spring device 39 to be interposed between the front of the frame andthe adapter in a partially expanded condition. When the parts areassembled, therefore, the bearing member 24 is drawn toward the frame,and the spring device is pressed against the frame with a firm butlimited pressure determined by the degree of compression of the springdevice. This is su'fiicient to prevent rattling of the parts, but islight enough to secure free easy action in operatio'n. v

Each of the wiper assemblies also comprises a stop and deten't mechanismwhich is not claimed per se herein, because it is disclosed and claimedmy pending application Serial No. 629,653, filed November 19, 1945, forWindshield Wiper Ap paratus, which. is a continuation of applicationSerialNo. 475,482, filed February 11, 1943, for Windshield WiperApparatus. Briefly, this device consists chi'efiy of a plate 45comprising a body portion 46, a forwardly extending web '41 andrearwardly extending stop flanges 48. The

device 45 is adapted to be impaled upon the shaft 3 and is restrainedagainst "rotation by engagement of the web"'41 with the upper horizdntalface of the windshield frame.

The flanges 4's extend aciross the path or the channeled operating crank26, limited movement of the crank to an "obtuseangle and" preventingoperation of the windshield wiper blade into a position to strike thewindshield frame. On one of the flanges 48 of each of the devices 45 alatch 49 is pivotally mounted, the latch including a finger 50 which maybe set clear of the path of the crank26 or movedinto the channel of thecrank 26 by a finger piece 5|.

The point should be noticed that the available stroke of the springdevice 39 is substantially less than the fore and aft extent of the web4 1', there beingnopossibility of freeing the device 45 for rotation.

Since each ..of the wiper assemblies includes a latch 49, it is evidentthat either the driver or a passenger may look both wiper arms throughthe setting of the latch 49- nearest him to a detaining position. v

It is important in military vehicles that provision be madefor enablingboth wiper arms to be freed for operation by either the driver or apassenger, and to this end it is an important feature of the presentinvention that each detaining finger 50 is formed with a downwardlysloping upper face 52 and with a curved end portion 53 of substantialradius. With this construction, the tandem wiper structure may beforciblyoperated through either crank to cam aside either of the fingers50 that may be effective, thereby to free the wipers for normaloperation.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that this is merely illustrative as to the principlesdisclosed. It will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to belimited thereto, since it is apparent that the principles hereindisclosed are susceptible of numerous other applications andmodifications may be made in the instrumentalities employed withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my inventions as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a windshield wiper, the combination with two parallel shaftsextending in a fore and aft direction, of a wiper mounted on the forwardend of at least one of the shafts, channeled operating arms connected tothe rear ends of the respective shafts for disposition adjacent theinner side of a windshield, operating handles on the arms, connectorbrackets detachably secured in the channels, each bracket including anend portion that extends between the channel walls and an offset portionthat extends beyond the channel walls, and a link pivotally connected atits opposite ends to the offset portion of the respective brackets.

2. In a hand operated windshield wiper, adapted to be mounted on awindshield, which includes a frame having a face portion and adjacentsurface portions offset therefrom, in combination, a wiper mountingassembly including a shaft adapted to extend through the windshieldframe and to protrude at the front and rear thereof, a thrust memberafilxed to the protruding forward end of said shaft, an operating crankmember affixed to the protruding rearward end of said shaft, a wiperblade carried by the shaft, a spring device of limited movement adaptedto be interposed between the frame and the thrust member to preventrattling of the parts and to limit the force with which the assembly isheld to the windshield frame, and an apparatus located. between thewindshield frame and the operating crank member affixed to the shaft,said apparatus having a base portion formed to receive such shaft andheld in position between the windshield frame 6 and the operating crankmember: by the. wiper mounting assembly acting through said springdevice, said apparatus including further portions extending in offsetrelation to said base portion and adapted to engage offset surfaceportions of said windshield frame to limit rocking of said apparatusabout the axis of said shaft, and stop portionsextending in offsetrelation to said base portion and adapted to limit movement of saidwiper to an obtuse angle, said further portions of said apparatusextending in a fore and aft direction for a distance substantially inexcess of the limited fore and aftmovement of the spring device. 1

I3. In-a hand operated windshield wiper, adapted to be mounted on awindshield which includes -a frame having a face portion and adjacentsurface portions offset therefrom, in combination, a wiper mountingassembly including a shaft adaptedto extend through the windshield frameand to protrude at the front and rear thereof, an adapter removablyaffixed to the protruding forward end of said shaft, an operating crankmember affixed to the protruding rearward end of said shaft, a wiper armremovably secured to the adapter, and a compression spring device oflimited movement adapted to be interposed between the frame and theadapter to prevent rattling. of the parts and to limit the force withwhich the assembly is clamped to the windshield frame.

4. A windshield wiper, adapted to be mounted on a windshield, whichincludes a frame havinga face portion and a surface portion offsettherefrom, in combination a wiper mounting assembly including a shaftadapted to extend through the windshield frame and protrude at the frontand rear thereof, adapter means afiixed to the protruding forward end ofsaid shaft, a crank member affixed to the protruding rearward ends ofsaid shaft, a wiper arm carried by said adapter means, spacer meanshaving a base portion formed to receive said shaft disposed between saidwindshield frame and said crank member, a spring device adapted fordisposition between the frame and one of said means whereby to assist inholding said spacer means in a predetermined position and at the sametime prevent rattling of the parts, said spacer means including aportion extending in an offset relation to said base portion adapted toengage the offset surface of said windshield frame to limit rockingmovement of said spacer means about the axis of said shaft, and a stopextending in offset relation to said base portion and adapted to limitmovement of said wiper arm in one direction.

5. A windshield and frame therefor, a first shaft extending through saidframe, an arm carried by said first shaft, a second shaft parallel tothe first shaft, a second arm on second shaft pivotally mounted withrespect to said frame, wipers carried by said arms, means for operatingsaid arms, a pair of bracket means associated with said frame adjacentone side of the windshield, and manually controlled latch means carriedby each of said bracket means and movable in a plane transverse to theplane of the windshield for locking the arms in predeterminedv positionswith respect to said bracket means.

6. A windshield and frame therefor, a pair of shafts extending throughsaid frame, arms carried by said shafts, wipers carried by said arms,means for operating said arms, a pair of bracket means associated withsaid frame adjacent one side of the windshield, stops on said bracketmeans, and hand controlled lever means carried by each of said bracketmeans and having catch means engageable with the operating means forlocking the arms in predetermined positions.

7. A windshield frame, a shaft extending through; said frame, an armcarried by said shaft,, a second wiper arm pivotally mounted withrespect to said frame and operatively re lated. to said first arm,wipers carried by said arms, means for operating said arms, bracketmeans associated with said frame, stops on said bracket means,inflexible locking means provided on each of said bracket means, bridgemeans con necting said operating means together, and handle means forsimultaneously moving said operating means to positions relative to thestops whereby one or the other of said locking means may be moved byhand for locking the arms against movement.

8. A windshield frame, a pair of shafts extending through said frame,arms carried by said shafts, bracket means associated with said frame,stops on said bracket means, hand operated inflexible locking meansprovided on each of said bracket means, and means for moving said armsto positions relative to said stops after which one or both of saidlocking means may be manipulat ed for locking the arms against movement.

9. A windshield wiper assembly comprising a pair of brackets adapted tobe mounted adjacent a windshield frame, an arm pivotally mounted withrespect to each bracket, bridge means con necting the arms together, andinflexible latch means pivotally carried by each bracket constructed andarranged whereby one or both may be manipulated to hold the arms againstmove ment after the arms are swung against the brackets. v

THEODORE J. SMULSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following rereremes are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS

